Student and Early Career Information

This page summarizes funding opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral student researchers to participate in international research and education activities.

Individual postdoctoral and graduate student researchers may apply directly for a number of OISE programs. In addition, postdoctoral and graduate and undergraduate student researchers may be supported as participants in collaborative research projects, joint workshops, and other activities supported by NSF.

Note that OISE support for undergraduate student, graduate student and postdoctoral researchers is targeted at individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

For Postdoctoral researchers:

• International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP) This program offers 9 to 24 month research fellowships at foreign host institutions. Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree no more than two years before the date of application, or expect to receive the doctoral degree by the award date. Guidelines and application materials are available in the IRFP Funding Opportunity page. Country-specific questions should be addressed to relevant INT staff. IRFP general questions may be directed to Susan Parris;
• The Department of Energy and NSF support a limited number of Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) modeled on the NATO Advanced Studies Institutes. Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes are short courses of two to four weeks duration at the advanced graduate and postgraduate level. PASIs aim to disseminate advanced scientific knowledge and stimulate training and cooperation among researchers of the Americas in the basic sciences and engineering fields. Currently, only institutes in any physical, mathematical, biological science discipline and/or engineering may be supported. Guidelines for the competition can be found in PASI Funding Opportunity page. Students should contact senior researchers with PASI funding, rather than applying directly to NSF. For details on current Institutes, contact Harold Stolberg.
• The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers a range of fellowship programs to support research visits to Japan of two weeks to two years by senior and junior researchers, postdoctoral researchers and senior doctoral students. Applications are submitted through the potential Japanese host researcher directly to JSPS. Information about the JSPS fellowships may be found both at the NSF Tokyo website and through the JSPS website;

For Graduate Student researchers:

• The East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering with first-hand experience in Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwanese research environments, an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective locations, and language training during an eight week summer program. International airfare, living expenses in the host location, and a summer stipend of $5,000 are provided. Consult the East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI) Funding Opportunity page and the EAPSI web site for current information. Questions should be directed to the EAPSI Helpdesk.
• Doctoral Dissertation enhancement projects (DDEP) - Dissertation enhancement projects support dissertation research conducted by graduate students at a foreign site. Students are expected to work in close cooperation with a host country institution and investigator. The applicant is responsible for making all necessary arrangements with the host country institution and scientist. The doctoral faculty advisor, on behalf of the student, submits the dissertation enhancement proposal. For more information and application details, consult the Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (IRES & DDEP) funding opportunity page.
• The Department of Energy and NSF support a limited number of Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) modeled on the NATO Advanced Studies Institutes. Pan American Advanced Studies Institutes are short courses of two to four weeks duration at the advanced graduate and postgraduate level. PASIs aim to disseminate advanced scientific knowledge and stimulate training and cooperation among researchers of the Americas in basic sciences and engineering fields. Currently, only institutes in physical, mathematical, biological science discipline and/or engineering may be supported. Guidelines can be found on the PASI funding oportunity page. Students should contact senior researchers with PASI funding, rather than applying directly to NSF. For details on current Institutes, contact Harold Stolberg.
• The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers a range of fellowship programs to support research visits to Japan of two weeks to two years by senior and junior researchers, postdoctoral researchers and senior doctoral students. Applications are submitted through the potential Japanese host researcher directly to JSPS. Information about the JSPS fellowships may be found both at the NSF Tokyo website and through the JSPS website.

For Undergraduate researchers:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is an NSF-wide activity which can support international REU sites or add international dimensions to domestic activities. Students apply to the institution hosting the site, not directly to NSF. Consult the program web page for details;
• International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) supports proposals to provide international research experiences for small groups of undergraduates and/or graduate students. Students apply to the institution hosting the activity, not directly to NSF. Consult the Developing Global Scientists and Engineers (IRES & DDEP) web page for details;

To identify OISE staff assignments for specific countries, see Staff by Country page.

General questions about OISE may be directed to OISEwebmaster@nsf.gov.